Connecticut Mechanics Lien Guide and FAQs

A mechanic’s lien is not valid unless the person performing the services or furnishing the materials (1) within ninety days after he has ceased to do so, lodges with the town clerk of the town in which the building, lot or plot of land is situated a certificate in writing, which shall be recorded by the town clerk with deeds of land, (A) describing the premises, the amount claimed as a lien thereon, the name or names of the person against whom the lien is being filed and the date of the commencement of the performance of services or furnishing of materials, (B) stating that the amount claimed is justly due, as nearly as the same can be ascertained, and (C) subscribed and sworn to by the claimant, and (2) not later than thirty days after lodging the certificate, serves a true and attested copy of the certificate upon the owner of the building, lot or plot of land in the same manner as is provided for the service of the notice in section 49-35.

(a) No person other than the original contractor for the construction, raising, removal or repairing of the building, or the development of any lot, or the site development or subdivision of any plot of land or a subcontractor whose contract with the original contractor is in writing and has been assented to in writing by the other party to the original contract, is entitled to claim any such mechanic’s lien, unless, after commencing, and not later than ninety days after ceasing, to furnish materials or render services for such construction, raising, removal or repairing, such person gives written notice to the owner of the building, lot or plot of land and to the original contractor that he or she has furnished or commenced to furnish materials, or rendered or commenced to render services, and intends to claim a lien therefor on the building, lot or plot of land; provided an original contractor shall not be entitled to such notice, unless, not later than fifteen days after commencing the construction, raising, removal or repairing of the building, or the development of any lot, or the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, such original contractor lodges with the town clerk of the town in which the building, lot or plot of land is situated an affidavit in writing, which shall be recorded by the town clerk with deeds of land, (1) stating the name under which such original contractor conducts business, (2) stating the original contractor’s business address, and (3) describing the building, lot or plot of land. The right of any person to claim a lien under this section shall not be affected by the failure of such affidavit to conform to the requirements of this section. The notice shall be served upon the owner or original contractor, if such owner or original contractor resides in the same town in which the building is being erected, raised, removed or repaired or the lot is being improved, or the plot of land is being improved or subdivided, by any indifferent person, state marshal or other proper officer, by leaving with such owner or original contractor or at such owner’s or the original contractor’s usual place of abode a true and attested copy thereof. If the owner or original contractor does not reside in such town, but has a known agent therein, the notice may be so served upon the agent, otherwise it may be served by any indifferent person, state marshal or other proper officer, by mailing a true and attested copy of the notice by registered or certified mail to the owner or original contractor at the place where such owner or the original contractor resides. If such copy is returned unclaimed, notice to such owner or original contractor shall be given by publication in accordance with the provisions of section 1-2. When there are two or more owners, or two or more original contractors, the notice shall be so served on each owner and on each original contractor. The notice, with the return of the person who served it endorsed thereon, shall be returned to the original maker of the notice not later than thirty days after the filing of the certificate pursuant to section 49-34.

(b) No subcontractor, without a written contract complying with the provisions of this section, and no person who furnishes material or renders services by virtue of a contract with the original contractor or with any subcontractor, may be required to obtain an agreement with, or the consent of, the owner of the land, as provided in section 49-33, to enable him to claim a lien under this section.

(a) Whenever one or more mechanics’ liens are placed upon any real estate pursuant to sections 49-33, 49-34, 49-35 and 49-38, the owner of the real estate, if no action to foreclose the lien is then pending before any court, may make application, together with a proposed order and summons, to the superior court for the judicial district in which the lien may be foreclosed under the provisions of section 51-345, or to any judge thereof, that a hearing or hearings be held to determine whether the lien or liens should be discharged or reduced. The court or judge shall thereupon order reasonable notice of the application to be given to the lienor or lienors named therein and, if the application is not made by all owners of the real estate as may appear of record, shall order reasonable notice of the application to be given to all other such owners, and shall set a date or dates for the hearing or hearings to be held thereon. If the lienor or lienors or any owner entitled to notice is not a resident of this state, the notice shall be given by personal service, registered or certified mail, publication or such other method as the court or judge shall direct. At least four days’ notice shall be given to the lienor, lienors or owners entitled to notice prior to the date of the hearing.

(b) The application, order and summons shall be substantially in the following form:

APPLICATION FOR DISCHARGE OR REDUCTION OF MECHANIC’S LIEN

To the …. Court of ….

The undersigned represents:

1. That …. is the owner of the real estate described in Schedule A attached hereto.

2. That the names and addresses of all other owners of record of such real estate are as follows:

3. That on or about …., (date) …., (name of lienor) of …. (address of lienor) placed a mechanic’s lien on such real estate and gave notice thereof.

4. That there is not probable cause to sustain the validity of such lien (or: That such lien is excessive).

5. That the applicant seeks an order for discharge (or reduction) of such lien.

Name of Applicant

By ….

Applicant’s Attorney

ORDER

The above application having been presented to the court, it is hereby ordered, that a hearing be held thereon at …. a.m. and that the applicant give notice to the following persons: (Names and addresses of persons entitled to notice) of the pendency of said application and of the time when it will be heard by causing a true and attested copy of the application, and of this order to be served upon such persons by some proper officer or indifferent person on or before …. and that due return of such notice be made to this court.

Dated at …. this …. day of …. 20…

SUMMONS

To a state marshal of the county of …., or either constable of the town of …., in said county,

Greeting:

By authority of the state of Connecticut, you are hereby commanded to serve a true and attested copy of the above application and order upon …., of …. by leaving the same in such person’s hands or at such person’s usual place of abode (or such other notice as ordered by the court) on or before ….

Hereof fail not but due service and return make.

Dated at …. this …. day of …. 20…

….

Commissioner of the Superior Court

(1) If the clerk, upon receipt of all the documents in duplicate, finds them to be in proper form, the clerk shall fix a date for a hearing on the application and sign the order of hearing and notice. An entry fee of twenty dollars shall then be collected and a copy of the original document shall be placed in the court file.

(2) The clerk shall deliver to the applicant’s attorney the original of the documents for service. Service having been made, the original documents shall be returned to the court with the endorsement by the officer of such officer’s actions.

(c) If an action for foreclosure of the lien is pending before any court, any party to that action may at any time prior to trial, unless an application under subsection (a) of this section has previously been ruled upon, move that the lien be discharged or reduced.

(d) No more than one application under subsection (a) hereof or motion under subsection (c) hereof shall be ruled upon with respect to any single mechanic’s lien, except that the foregoing shall not preclude an application or motion by a person not given notice of the prior application or not a party to the action at the time the prior motion was ruled upon.

(a) Upon the hearing held on the application or motion set forth in section 49-35a, the lienor shall first be required to establish that there is probable cause to sustain the validity of his lien. Any person entitled to notice under section 49-35a may appear, be heard and prove by clear and convincing evidence that the validity of the lien should not be sustained or the amount of the lien claimed is excessive and should be reduced.

(b) Upon consideration of the facts before it, the court or judge may:

(1) Deny the application or motion if probable cause to sustain the validity of the lien is established; or

(2) order the lien discharged if (A) probable cause to sustain its validity is not established, or (B) by clear and convincing evidence its invalidity is established; or

(3) reduce the amount of the lien if the amount is found to be excessive by clear and convincing evidence; or

(4) order the lien discharged or reduce the amount of the lien conditioned upon the posting of a bond, with surety, in a sum deemed sufficient by the judge to indemnify the lienor for any damage which may occur by the discharge or the reduction of amount.

(a) Any order entered as provided in subsection (b) of section 49-35b shall be deemed a final judgment for the purpose of appeal.

(b) No appeal may be taken from the order except within seven days thereof. The effect of the order shall be automatically stayed for the seven-day period. If an appeal is taken within the seven-day period, the party taking the appeal may, within that period, file an application with the clerk of the court in which the order was issued, requesting a stay of the effect of the order pending the appeal, which application shall set forth the reasons for the request. A copy of the application shall be sent to each other party by the applicant. Upon the filing of the application, the effect of the order shall be further stayed until a decision is rendered thereon. A hearing on the application shall be held promptly. The order shall be stayed if the party taking the appeal posts a bond, as provided in subsection (c) of this section.

(c) Upon the hearing on the application, the court shall:

(1) Upon motion of the party taking the appeal, set a bond with surety for the stay of the order as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in an amount which the court deems sufficient to indemnify the adverse party for any damages which may result from the stay. If the party taking the appeal gives that bond the order shall be stayed; or

(2) grant the stay; or

(3) deny the stay; or

(4) condition the granting of the stay upon the giving of such a bond.

(d) Any order of discharge or reduction or any order of any such stay shall take effect upon recording of a certified copy thereof in the office of the town clerk in which such lien was originally recorded. The clerk of the court in which any such order is issued shall not deliver any certified copies thereof until the time for taking an appeal has elapsed or, if an appeal is taken and an application for a stay of the order is filed, until such time as a decision granting or denying the stay has been rendered.

(a) Any person who prior to April 22, 1975, placed a mechanic’s lien upon any real estate pursuant to sections 49-33, 49-34, 49-35 and 49-38, which was not released or discharged on such date, may validate such lien by filing a new certificate of mechanic’s lien and serving a true and attested copy thereof pursuant to the provisions of section 49-34, and, if applicable, by serving the notice required by section 49-35, within ninety days from June 25, 1975, and such mechanic’s lien shall be deemed to have originated as of the effective date of the original mechanic’s lien so validated, provided, such validation shall not affect the interest of any person acquiring an interest in such real estate as an owner or mortgagee from April 22, 1975, through June 25, 1975, inclusive. Such validation shall not affect the interest of any person to whom such validation would be in violation of the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the state of Connecticut, but in such event such lien shall have no less validity than if the lienor had commenced the rendering of services or the furnishing of materials on June 25, 1975. Any such lien not validated pursuant to this section shall be invalid and discharged as a matter of law.

(b) Any person who would have been entitled under the terms of sections 49-33, 49-34, 49-35 and 49-38, to claim a mechanic’s lien between April 22, 1975, and June 25, 1975, inclusive, but had not done so, may file a certificate of such lien and serve a true and attested copy thereof as required by section 49-34 and, if applicable, serve the notice required by section 49-35, within the time provided by section 49-34, or within ninety days of June 25, 1975, whichever period is longer. For purposes of determining when such person’s mechanic’s lien took effect, such person shall be deemed to have commenced the rendering of services or the furnishing of materials as of June 25, 1975, but for purposes of determining the amount of such lien such person shall be deemed to have commenced the rendering of services or the furnishing of materials as of the actual date of such commencement.

(c) Any person who between April 22, 1975 and June 25, 1975, inclusive, placed a mechanic’s lien upon any real estate pursuant to sections 49-33, 49-34 and 49-38, which was not released or discharged on June 25, 1975, may file a new certificate of such lien and serve a true and attested copy thereof pursuant to the provisions of section 49-34, and, if applicable, may serve the notice required by section 49-35, within ninety days of June 25, 1975. For purposes of determining when such person’s mechanic’s lien took effect, such person shall be deemed to have commenced the rendering of services or the furnishing of materials as of June 25, 1975, but for purposes of determining the amount of such lien such person shall be deemed to have commenced the rendering of services or the furnishing of materials as of the actual date of such commencement.

(a) No mechanic’s lien may attach to any building or its appurtenances, or to the land on which the same stands, or any lot, or any plot of land, in favor of any person, to a greater amount in the whole than the price which the owner agreed to pay for the building and its appurtenances or the development of any such lot, or the development of any such plot of land.

(b) When there are several claimants and the amount of their united claims exceeds that price, the claimants, other than the original contractor, shall be first paid in full, if the amount of that price is sufficient for that purpose; but, if not, it shall be apportioned among the claimants having the liens, other than the original contractor, in proportion to the amount of the debts due them respectively; and the court having jurisdiction thereof, on application of any person interested, may direct the manner in which the claims shall be paid.

(c) In determining the amount to which any lien or liens may attach upon any land or building, or lot or plot of land, the owner of the land or building or lot or plot of land shall be allowed whatever payments he has made, in good faith, to the original contractor or contractors, before receiving notice of the lien or liens. No payments made in advance of the time stipulated in the original contract may be considered as made in good faith, unless notice of intention to make the payment has been given in writing to each person known to have furnished materials or rendered services at least five days before the payment is made.

(a) Whenever any mechanic’s lien has been placed upon any real estate pursuant to sections 49-33, 49-34 and 49-35, the owner of that real estate, or any person interested in it, may make an application to any judge of the Superior Court that the lien be dissolved upon the substitution of a bond with surety, and the judge shall order reasonable notice to be given to the lienor of the application. If the lienor is not a resident of the state, the judge may order notice to be given by publication, registered or certified letter or personal service. If the judge is satisfied that the applicant in good faith intends to contest the lien, he shall, if the applicant offers a bond, with sufficient surety, conditioned to pay to the lienor or his assigns such amount as a court of competent jurisdiction may adjudge to have been secured by the lien, with interest and costs, order the lien to be dissolved and such bond substituted for the lien and shall return the application, notice, order and bond to the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district wherein the lien is recorded; and, if the applicant, within ten days from such return, causes a copy of the order, certified by the clerk, to be recorded in the town clerk’s office where the lien is recorded, the lien shall be dissolved. Whenever a bond is substituted for any lien after an action for the foreclosure of a lien has been commenced, the plaintiff in the foreclosure may amend his complaint, without costs, so as to make the action one upon the bond with which the plaintiff may join an action to recover upon his claim. Whenever a bond is substituted for any lien before an action for the foreclosure of the lien has been commenced, the plaintiff may join the action upon the bond with an action to recover upon his claim. Whenever a bond has been substituted for any lien, pursuant to this section, unless an action is brought to recover upon the bond within one year from the date of recording the certificate of lien, the bond shall be void.

(b) Whenever a bond has been substituted for any lien pursuant to this section:

(1) The principal or surety on the bond, if no action to recover on the bond is then pending before any court, may make application, together with a proposed order and summons, to the superior court for the judicial district in which the action may be brought, or to any judge of the court, that a hearing be held to determine whether the lien for which the bond was substituted should be declared invalid or reduced in amount. The court or judge shall thereupon order reasonable notice of the application to be given to the obligee on the bond and, if the application is not made by all principals or sureties on the bond, shall order reasonable notice of the application to be given to all other such principals and sureties, and shall set a date for the hearing to be held thereon. If the obligee or any principal or surety entitled to notice is not a resident of this state, the notice shall be given by personal service, registered or certified mail, publication or such other method as the court or judge shall direct. At least four days notice shall be given to the obligee, principal and surety entitled to notice prior to the date of the hearing.

(2) The application, order and summons shall be substantially in the form established by subsection (b) of section 49-35a, adapted accordingly. The provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of section 49-35a, shall apply.

(3) If an action on the bond is pending before any court, any party to that action may at any time prior to trial, unless an application under subdivision (1) of this subsection has previously been ruled upon, move that the lien for which the bond was substituted be declared invalid or reduced in amount.

(4) No more than one application or motion under subdivision (1) or (3) of this subsection may be ruled upon with respect to any single mechanic’s lien, except that the foregoing does not preclude an application or motion by a person not given notice of the prior application or not a party to the action at the time the prior motion was ruled upon. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as permitting a surety on a bond to bring an application for discharge or reduction, if the validity of the lien has previously been ruled upon pursuant to section 49-35a.

(5) Upon the hearing held on the application or motion set forth in this subsection, the obligee on the bond shall first be required to establish that there is probable cause to sustain the validity of the lien. Any person entitled to notice under subdivision (1) of this section may appear, be heard and prove by clear and convincing evidence that the validity of the lien should not be sustained or that the amount of the lien claimed is excessive and should be reduced. Upon consideration of the facts before it, the court or judge may:

(A) Deny the application or motion if probable cause to sustain the validity of the lien is established; or

(B) order that the bond is void if (i) probable cause to sustain the validity of the lien is not established, or (ii) by clear and convincing evidence, the invalidity of the lien is established; or

(C) order the amount of the bond reduced if the amount of the lien is found to be excessive by clear and convincing evidence.

(6) Any order entered upon an application set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be deemed a final judgment for the purpose of appeal.

Whenever prior to April 22, 1975, a bond has been substituted for any lien pursuant to section 49-37, which bond was in effect on said date, the obligee on such bond may validate the lien for which the bond was substituted by serving, by registered or certified mail, upon the principal and surety on such bond a copy of the certificate of mechanic’s lien which was originally filed, within ninety days of June 25, 1975. Any such lien not validated pursuant to this section shall be deemed to have been invalid and discharged as a matter of law.

If any person has a claim for materials furnished or services rendered for the construction of any railroad, or any of its appurtenances, under any contract with or approved by the corporation owning or managing it, the railroad shall, with its real estate, right-of-way, material, equipment, rolling stock and franchises, be subject to the payment of that claim; and that claim shall be a lien on the railroad, railroad property and franchises, and the lien shall be asserted, perfected and foreclosed in all respects in accordance with the provisions of sections 49-34 to 49-37, inclusive, except that the certificates of the lien and of its discharge shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the State, who shall record them in a book kept for that purpose.

A mechanic’s lien shall not continue in force for a longer period than one year after the lien has been perfected, unless the party claiming the lien commences an action to foreclose it, by complaint, cross-complaint or counterclaim, and records a notice of lis pendens in evidence thereof on the land records of the town in which the lien is recorded within one year from the date the lien was recorded or within sixty days of any final disposition of an application made pursuant to section 49-35a, including any appeal taken with respect thereto in accordance with section 49-35c, whichever is later. Each such lien, after the expiration of the one-year period or sixty-day period, as the case may be, without action commenced and notice thereof filed as aforesaid, shall be invalid and discharged as a matter of law. An action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien shall be privileged in respect to assignment for trial. With respect to any such lien which was validated in accordance with the provisions of section 49-37a, the one-year period or sixty-day period, as the case may be, shall toll from the date of the validation.

Any mechanic’s lien which has expired because of failure to comply with the time limitations of section 49-39 is automatically extinguished and the continued existence of the lien unreleased of record in no way affects the record owner’s title nor the marketability of the same.

Certificates of foreclosure of mechanic’s liens shall be, as far as possible, of the same form as is prescribed for certificates of foreclosure of mortgages.

(a) Any person having an interest in any real or personal property described in any certificate of lien, which lien is invalid but not discharged of record, may give written notice to the lienor sent to him at his last-known address by registered mail or by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to discharge the lien. Upon receipt of such notice, the lienor shall discharge the lien by sending a release sufficient under section 52-380d, by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the person requesting the discharge. If the lien is not discharged within thirty days of the notice, that person may apply to the Superior Court for such a discharge, and the court may adjudge the validity or invalidity of the lien and may award the plaintiff damages for the failure of the defendant to make discharge upon request. If the court is of the opinion that such certificate of lien was filed without just cause, it may allow, in its discretion, damages to any person aggrieved by such failure to discharge, at the rate of one hundred dollars for each week after the expiration of such thirty days, but not exceeding in the whole the sum of five thousand dollars or an amount equal to the loss sustained by such aggrieved person as a result of such failure to discharge the lien, which loss shall include, but not be limited to, a reasonable attorney’s fee, whichever is greater.

(b) When a lien on real property is adjudged invalid or is otherwise discharged by the court, a certified copy of the judgment of invalidity or discharge recorded on the land records of the town where the certificate of lien was filed fully discharges the lien. If such a discharged or invalid lien is a lien filed on personal property pursuant to section 52-355a, a release of lien in the form prescribed by subsection (c) of section 52-380d, certified to by a clerk of the Superior Court, with reference to and the date of the court order of discharge or invalidity, fully discharges the lien on filing with the Secretary of the State.

The pendency of an action for the foreclosure of any lien, other than a chattel mortgage, upon any personal estate is not notice of that action to any person who acquires an interest in that estate during the pendency of the action, unless the officer serving the process and complaint in the action leaves a true and attested copy of the process and complaint at the office of the town clerk of the town in which the lien is recorded at least twelve days before the return day of the process. A judgment or decree of foreclosure obtained in that action, upon any process and complaint of which a copy is not so left at the town clerk’s office, does not affect the rights of any person acquiring an interest in the estate during the pendency of the action.

(a) The officer serving the process and complaint in an action for the foreclosure of any lien, other than a chattel mortgage, upon any personal estate shall leave a true and attested copy of the process and complaint at the town clerk’s office at least twelve days before the return day of the process, for which he shall be allowed the same fees as for other copies, and the fees shall be taxed with the other fees in the cause.

(b) The town clerk at whose office any such copy is left shall keep the same on file for the inspection of all persons having any interest in the estate therein described. The town clerk shall endorse on all such copies the date of their reception, and shall plainly number them as they are received, consecutively. He shall also keep a book in which he shall index the copies, referring to their numbers, under the plaintiff’s name as grantee and the defendant’s name as grantor.